Did You Know – Curry Powder
Curry powder is a mix of various dried, ground spices. It usually looks bold yellow or orange in color. Although curry powder is most often associated with Indian dishes, it’s thought to have originated in England and is rarely used in India.
While “curries” are often used in international Indian cuisine, this term generally means “sauce” and is used to describe many different kinds of sauces. Curries are sauces, and curry dishes are dishes served in sauce. Most of the time, they do not contain curry powder.
Not everyone makes curry powder according to the same recipe. As a result, there are a variety of spices called “curry powder” sold in stores that differ greatly in terms of ingredients and flavors.
Here are the spices most commonly found in curry powder mixes:
- Turmeric
- Coriander
- Cumin
- Ginger
- Chili powder
- Black pepper
Some curry powders also contain cinnamon, clove, mustard, cardamom, or bay leaf. Perhaps surprisingly, curry powder does not typically contain the herb curry leaf (Murraya koenigii). Curry powder can be hot or mild, depending on its chili powder content.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF CURRY POWDER
- Many of the spices commonly used in curry powder have their own health benefits. When combined into a mix, the result is a flavorful seasoning that also supports your digestive health, heart health, and more.
- Help prevent and fight cancer. Eating curry powder regularly has the potential to combat cancer cells. This effect is also due to the curcumin in turmeric. Across a variety of studies, curcumin has been found to suppress many types of cancer cells, including breast, ovarian, prostate, lung, colon, and bladder cancer.
- Curry powder promotes digestive health, largely because it contains turmeric and ginger. Turmeric helps strengthen your digestive tract’s microbiome, or the healthy bacteria that help you digest food more efficiently. Ginger has been shown to help settle upset stomachs, and it reduces nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF CURRY POWDER
- Research shows that curcumin, the compound in turmeric responsible for many of its health benefits, isn’t as effective as a supplement.
- Circumin isn’t very easily absorbed on its own and tends to break down too quickly in your body. However, when consumed by eating turmeric, or combined with other compounds (such as those found in black pepper) it’s more readily absorbed and has a bigger health impact.
- Speaking of turmeric, there is concern that it can cause bloating and that it could interfere with medicine you might take for blood clots. Experts also suggest that people with gallbladder disease should avoid turmeric.
Source: http://www.webmd.com
http://www.InDianesKitchen.com
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Categories: Did You Know
Interesting and informative
Thank you Sheree
You will know by now that curry is my favourite food. This is a very helpful post for those who, like me when I did the cooking, like to make their own sauces
I need to explore curry recipes more, homemade is always the best!
Curries are the best and I love the blend of spices you mentioned in any combination. Always so aromatic and flavorful!
I haven’t really cooked much with them I need to spread my wings!
Very interesting. I have always assumed that curry was Indian, and that the English got it from India. Always nice to find out new things. Thanks!
That’s ok I thought curry was a spice, not a combination of them. đŸ¤£ You’re welcome Jeff.
All good to know.
Thank you!
Very interesting, thanks!
You’re welcome Colin!
Doesn’t it lift the spirits looking at all these vibrant spices?
It sure does and even more so when we use them!
Great information. As you stated curry powder is not used in India, as curry powder is a culinary invention of the English (England). Most recipes using curry powder are recipes developed outside of India, though Indian inspired. Many places in Africa even make curry dishes.
Yes, I was surprised for sure!
That was very interesting! It took me a while to understand curry is a mixture and not just a naturally occurring spice in itself. I think I learned that like 10 years ago. I loved the reminder on health benefits, I better plans some for a meal!
Thank you Tierney! I’m glad you thought it was interesting. I had no idea about curry until I did this post. My comments are so far behind and I am trying to get caught up. I think your website is mad at me as I couldn’t comment on any of your posts. So here they are! I have never seen a sunflower granny square and I love it! Your trip was amazing, did you get nervous at all down in the mine? My husband would NEVER do that, he’s claustrophobic.
Fascinating! I didn’t know most of this about curry. I always thought it was a single type of spice, not a mix. I also didn’t know that about it not being used in Indian cuisine usually, that it’s a word for sauce! You learn something new every day. The health benefits of turmeric sounds fantastic. I might start taking it. Thanks for this post <3
You’re welcome Beth! They actually sell turmeric capsules. I tried to comment on your blog but all it would take was a W. Then WP locked me out and wouldn’t let me type anything. It’s not your site because this was the second time this has happened. I wanted to tell you what a good idea it is taking the art classes. You will be so good at that you may change from writer to artist. đŸ¤£ It sounds like you are on your way to an excellent book.
Hi Diane! You know, come to think of it, my mom used to take turmeric in a gummy candy form.
WP can be so weird! Sorry you got locked out. Thanks for persevering and coming back to leave a comment!
Aw, thanks so much! Who knows, lol? I might just become a painter instead. Hehehe. Thanks for stopping by!
So strange, I went to comment on another post and my typing didn’t show but I continued anyway, hit enter and it went through. WP can be so weird!
We enjoy curry!
I have only cooked with it in the past year.
This is very interesting – I always thought curry powder (and other spices like turmeric, ginger and cumin) were each a spice in their own right. A few years ago, when my hay fever was really bad (and no antihistamines worked), I made a mixture of turmeric, ginger and cinnamon to which I added some honey and lukewarm water and drank it three times a day – it was a winner!
You are so clever!
One gets desperate when nothing wants to help for severe hay fever (and that while spring is suppose to be the most beautiful season – yeah right!)
That must be awful Corna! I would live in the air conditioned house but you would miss out on so much of your travels if you did that.
What an eye-opener on curry!
Right I thought it was its own spice. You can always teach an old dog new tricks! đŸ¤£
I keep hearing about tumeric and its positive impact on your health on the news health reports. I can’t say I’ve ever had a dish made with curry (that I know of). Perhaps it is time to try Indian food.
It has amazing health benefits but we don’t care for the taste. I even tried the capsule and it didn’t agree with me either.
Every so often there are new “buzz words” and tumeric is one of them – for a while it seems every time I was on social media or hearing the news, tumeric was the topic.